NOVEL NEXT Chapter 20: Chapter 20: Dad
After a few seconds that seemed horribly long, I took a step towards her. Lisa put her arms held together by metal handcuffs over my head trying to hug me.
I hug her feeling a deep connection with this poor little girl deprived of her childhood.
DING
Precursor of the G virus detected or Lisa Trevor detected. Host of the NE-α type parasite
Automatic conversion of the person under the authority of the host due to Lisa's positive feelings.
Emblematic enemy of resident evil 1: bonus being calculated
Choice of the host requested between two options.
Option 1: Correction of all physical and mental damage and memory erasure with return to childhood for Lisa. (Lisa will keep the passive advantages of the experiences undergone and will consider the host as her father)
Option 2: Genetic correction to transform Lisa into an almost invincible biological weapon. Obedience enforced as for Marcus or other creatures.
"I choose option one," I say, not even considering option two as an option.
Suddenly, I feel a change in her body. The transformation begins, and I feel a strange and soothing energy emanating from her. The process is quick but moving, each step marking a return to the lost innocence of Lisa Trevor.
Her deformed and scarred muscles begin to retract, the grotesque sutures and bloody bandages gradually disappear, leaving behind soft and smooth skin. Her arms and legs return to their normal proportions, reestablishing themselves as graceful and delicate limbs. The metal chains that symbolized her captivity fall to the ground with a thud, dissolving into dust.
Her face, once a mask of pain and madness, returns to childlike and pure features. The scars and deformities fade, revealing clear skin and rosy cheeks. Her eyes, once clouded by pain, become large and bright, expressing a newfound innocence and childlike curiosity.
Lisa's torn and dirty clothes transform into a simple, clean dress, fit for an eleven-year-old girl. Her hair, once dirty and tangled, becomes long and silky, framing her face with a comforting softness.
I hold her close, feeling warmth and life return to her body. She clings to me, her small arms surrounding my neck with surprising strength; a typical man would suffocate in her grip. Her eyes shine with tears, but they are tears of joy and relief.
"Daddy..." she whispers, her voice soft and trembling, echoing in the air. "Daddy, I'm so happy to have you back."
My heart clenches at the words. I hold her tighter, feeling a protective love and deep responsibility settle inside me. The horrors and suffering she has endured seem to fade away, replaced by a new beginning, a chance at a normal, happy childhood.
"I'm here, darling," I say, gently stroking her hair. "I'm here."
Lisa lifts her head, her eyes filled with innocence and gratitude. She smiles, a pure, genuine smile, lighting up her face with a newfound inner light. The bond between us is strong and unbreakable, a father-daughter bond forged by compassion and love.
The scene is deeply moving, a victory over darkness and pain, a rebirth for a tormented soul. Lisa Trevor, now an eleven-year-old girl, looks at me with boundless trust and adoration, ready to start a new life by my side.
I call one of Jordan's clones to ask a question I hadn't considered before.
"When you're in the factory, are you conscious?" I asked because even if Lisa is resilient, I don't count exposing her to danger while her memory is now blank of all the horrors she has suffered.
"We are in a fairly large space with a lab and a small forest aside and we are going about our business." he said before looking towards Lisa. "Doctor Marcus is inspecting your troops to discover all their characteristics".
I understand his implicit message, Lisa must not enter my factory otherwise Marcus will be overzealous, I noticed that unlike other of my creatures, he has much more free will.
I concentrate briefly, summoning the mafioso and two other G zombies to ensure our safety. They appear quickly, ready to receive instructions. I give them weapons to reinforce our training: two pistols, a shotgun and a submachine gun. For me, I re-equip my magnum on my belt, always ready to draw if necessary.
"Lisa, follow me," I say, holding her hand in a protective gentleness.
We fall into formation, ready to head back to the garden shed. The two G zombies in the lead hold a pistol and an assault rifle respectively, their movements coordinated and alert, scanning every corner for any threat.
Lisa and I stand in the center of the formation. I keep one hand protectively on her, my other hand ready to draw my magnum at the slightest warning. Her small hand squeezes mine, her confidence in me evident as we move forward together.
In the back, the mobster and another G zombie bring up the rear. The mobster is armed with a pistol, his movements precise and calculated, while the other G zombie holds the shotgun, his eyes constantly scanning our surroundings for any possible threats. Their discipline and vigilance reinforce our position, ensuring that we are well protected on all sides.
The formation moves with professional precision. The G zombies in the lead advance slowly, covering every blind spot and checking every room before we pass through them. Lisa walks beside me, reassured by our imposing presence and the safety of our formation. The two guards at the back cover our sides and rear, ensuring complete protection against any surprise attack.
Now that we are in a slightly safer place, I take the time to talk with my adopted daughter, Lisa.
"Lisa, do you know what your last name is?" I ask her softly, curious to see what she knows and to teach her the rest if necessary.
She looks at me with wide innocent eyes and smiles at me. "Same as daddy, I am a King, Lisa King," she says with such innocence that it melts my heart with tenderness.
"That's good, sweetheart," I say, gently petting her head. "Daddy's on a mission here, so sometimes I'll have to leave you with Steve and the Jordan triplets," I explained, naming the mobster and the three Jordan clones.
Her smile faded slightly and her eyes grew sad. "Are you going to abandon me, Dad?" she asked in a small voice that squeezed my heart. I suspected the system had changed my feelings too when I chose option 1, but I didn't complain.
I crouched down to be at her level and took her small hands in mine. "No, sweetheart, I'll never abandon you," I said in a soft, reassuring voice. "I'll always be there for you, even if I have to go away for a while. Steve and the Jordan triplets are here to protect you when I'm not around. You're my daughter and I love you more than anything."
She looks at me with her big, wet eyes, and I see a spark of understanding and trust rekindle within her. "Promise, Daddy?" she whispers, her small hands squeezing mine tightly.
"Promise, Lisa," I reply with a smile, pulling her into a comforting hug. "I'll always come back to you."
She squeezes me tight, and I feel all her love and trust in me. We stay like that for a moment, finding comfort in this new but already strong connection. The outside world may be full of dangers, but here, in this moment, nothing can harm us.
We resume our formation before entering the next part of the garden. Several dogs are loose, but I leave the formation, leaving Lisa in the middle before quickly capturing the three loose dogs.
After a little thought, I summon two Cerberus to serve as additional security, as well as an Aquila and 5 Ravens to ensure the safety of the nearby air perimeter.
As I inspect the area, I notice an empty elevator shaft, with plants sticking out of the bottom. The sight of these exposed roots puts me on alert. To test the plant's danger, I send a T zombie onto the root. As soon as it touches the plant, with a lightning movement, it is dragged down, disappearing in an instant. This leaves me hesitant about the idea of approaching this thing.
As a precaution, I decide to throw four plant zombies into the elevator shaft. The creatures fall heavily onto the exposed roots. The reaction of the giant plant is immediate, but different from what I expected. Instead of attacking them, the plant begins to retract slightly, its movements becoming more fluid and less aggressive. The roots move gently around the plant zombies, as if recognizing them.
The plant zombies slowly get up, and a strange process of symbiosis seems to take place. The roots of the giant plant begin to wrap around the creatures, almost merging with them. The leaves of the plant zombies vibrate in response, and a sort of silent communication is established between the two plant entities.
The roots and stems of the giant plant open slightly, allowing the plant zombies to move freely without being attacked. The giant plant seems to recognize these creatures as allies, or at least as entities similar to itself. The movements of the roots become more harmonious, almost protective, forming a sort of living barrier around the plant zombies.
I watch this phenomenon with fascination and relief. The giant plant, faced with other similar organisms, reacts with symbiotic integration rather than aggression. This gives me some confidence in my ability to traverse this area using these creatures as intermediaries.
I move away carefully before going to the other opening since it would be unwise to jump without a possibility of retreat but at least, I have a solution to reach the heart of plant 42.
This one leads to a fairly long pool filled with water with a ladder on the other side. Lisa looks at the pool of clear water managing to admire her reflection for the first time since her metamorphosis.
I call the dogs back, preferring a safer and more suitable approach for our crossing of the pool. Summoning my Aquamoths, the gigantic blue fish, I prepare our group for a unique aquatic journey. The scales of the Aquamoths sparkle under the subdued light of the afternoon as they prepare to carry all six of us through these potentially dangerous waters.
With surprising delicacy, I climb onto the back of one of the Aquamoths, then help Lisa to settle in front of me. Her eyes light up with pure wonder, a radiant smile lighting up her face. "It's incredible, Daddy!" she exclaims, her voice full of childish joy.
The Aquamoths glide through the water with majestic grace. Their fluid movements barely create ripples on the surface, carrying each of us with surprising stability. The G zombies, though imposing, also rise without difficulty, held by the power of my aquatic creatures.
Above us, the aerial patrol continues its vigilant watch. The bald eagle, with its powerful wings and piercing gaze, leads the dance, followed closely by the ravens that fly in harmonious formation. Their movements are synchronized, an aerial waltz that adds a note of calm and security to our crossing.
Lisa looks up, her eyes wide with fascination. "Look, Daddy! The birds are dancing!" she says excitedly, her small hand pointing to the sky. I smile, sharing her wonder. "Yes, my dear. They are watching over us," I answered softly.
The serenity of the moment is almost unreal. The soft sound of the water cutting under the Aquamoths and the breath of the wind in the trees create a natural symphony, contrasting with the omnipresent tension and danger of the manor. The sensation of floating above the threats, carried by such extraordinary creatures, is both soothing and exhilarating.
We quickly arrive on the other side as I call my fish back before seeing a staircase that goes down along the pond. "It's over" Lisa sighed as the crossing was brief.
"I'll let you do fish climbing longer when we are safe" said as we resumed walking towards the basement of this complex.
(nda: ^^)